Mr. Smith, a collegiate All-American, was a scout for the New York Islanders for two years, before joining the Detroit Red Wings in 1982. In 1989, he was named general manager of the New York Rangers and three years later became the hockey team's ninth president.
Under his leadership, the Rangers twice had the best overall record in the National Hockey League and won the Stanley Cup, in 1994.
A member of the WMU Athletic Hall of Fame, he was named NHL Executive of the Year in 1992 by The Sporting News.